Toyota VP bets $100 they make first lithium-ion vehicle
GM will probably have the first plug-in vehicle on the market, but Toyota is not out of the game just yet. The senior staff seems confident in the future of lithium-ion batteries at Toyota. Don Esmond, senior vice president of Toyota's U.S. automotive operations, says "I've got $100 in my pocket that says we'll be the first automaker to put a lithium-ion vehicle out there."
Don says "advances in technology take a consistent, long-term focus. That's what we've done." They either assume GM won't commit or maybe they have a product offering coming sooner than we know. Jim Lentz, Toyota's U.S. executive vice president of sales, did not rule of a completely revamped Prius line next year. "It's possible," "but probably not."
Maybe the Prius is delayed but Toyota's two door plug-in hybrid SUVs are right on time? I can dream, can't I :D What do you think? I know they had a bad week with GM's press conference but they seem a little too optimistic to me. I hope they are planning something soon because I don't think this is EV-1 all over again. A lot has changed since EV-1.
[Source: Bloomberg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
joeditt 4:53AM (4/10/2008)
Only now I stumbled upon your site, and into this story.
"Two doors"? What you mean "two"?
(1) If you were right at least to some extent, what you really mean would be three.
(2) And actually, it's - clearly recognizable, at least on the side/rear-pic in the linked cars.com-article - a FIVE door - vehicle. Just that the rear door handles don't shine like you need them in order to find them doesn't mean they aren't there (obviously, you have to push in a small carbody-colored flap right behind the rear door at about the same height as the windows' lower edges, to have your fingertips slip into a cavity behind the door's surface where you press sort of a flat button, unlatching the door just by starting to pull it open).
Never seen an Alfa Romeo 156 (4-door, 5-door) or the 147's 5-door-version with those windowframe-rear integrated backdoor handles? Tsk, tsk, tsk.
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Peter 9:46PM (8/13/2007)
Well they better hurry. If Tesla lives up to their claims, their li-ion car will be out in a few months.
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Tony Belding 10:07PM (8/13/2007)
That's exactly what I was going to say. Tesla are on track to deliver their first cars as soon as early November, if all goes well and there are no further hang-ups.
Will Toyota beat that? Somehow I doubt it.
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Eric 10:37PM (8/13/2007)
Autoweek reported today: "The same day Lutz was talking, the Wall Street Journal reported a bit of a setback for Toyota when it said it might delay the launch of its new gas-electric hybrids by perhaps as much as two years because of possible safety problems with its lithium-ion batteries. “It very definitely opens a window of opportunity for us,” Lutz said of Toyota’s potential delay."
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Fred Flintstone 10:41PM (8/13/2007)
Looks like Don Esmond may owe Tesla $100 real soon... Can we get him to move the decimal a few places to the right???
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kert 2:16AM (8/14/2007)
Apparently mr. Esmond is just out of touch. Subscribe to ABG newsfeed perhaps ?
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Lascelles 7:12AM (8/14/2007)
Toyota could show something at an Auto show say, September and beat Tesla. Treehugger implied Tesla delays because of the CEO replacement but I don't think that will happen.
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calebe 9:04AM (8/14/2007)
They may get it to market but you can bet your life that you may not be able to buy one soon. Even a few years into production. If this is not a high volume product and you want to option it the way you like good luck. Toyota is horrible to deal with on low volume products. Ordering a Scion can be a nightmare. Options listed that are not available, 6-8 months of waiting just to find out they can't produce the car they said they could. I'll believe it when i see it.
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Lithous 10:06AM (8/14/2007)
I saw something interesting last night. Late night news (ABC)and a story about Tesla. I had not heard this before (I don't follow Tesla closely) but the Tesla exec mentioned licensing their technology as part of their plan. Whether the licensing is new news or old, no one here has mentioned that as Toyota's way to get past at least the major automakers. With Toyota's money they could easily get an exclusive (other than Tesla) on the licensing.
My guess is that Toyota has a vehicle they have been working on for their own electric, maybe a Lexus even, and could add Tesla's technology.
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Lascelles 10:15AM (8/14/2007)
Lithous, I saw it too. It's not news.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/11/29/tesla-motors-ready-to-license-batter-tech-to-other-companies
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Chris M 1:45AM (8/15/2007)
I don't think showing a prototype at an auto show counts - especially since Tesla Motors has already exhibited at two auto shows!
I suspect he was ignoring small companies like Tesla and Venturi. From Toyotas viewpoint, the only one they need to worry about beating to market is GM. Given the delays on the E-Flex project, Toyota might be able to do it.
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Abigail 11:59AM (8/23/2007)
How fast people forget. Nissan Electric Vehicle used Lithium Ion when all others were using NiMh... 1999. 800+ pounds of battery. Although extremely limited quantity, they were "on the road".
Honda's new FCX (concept, not final production) has been driven by journalists and also uses Lithium Ion but will be out next year. Everyone acts like Lithium Ion is the holy grail, but it still faces the same two issues. 1. Cost (much more than NiMh) and 2. Life. The 3rd (not same) issue is safety.
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steven 11:19PM (8/23/2007)
GOOD GOD! That is UGLIER that the Volt!
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66coronet 1:37AM (9/14/2007)
What about the UPS dodge sprinter plug-in, lithium ion vans?
http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/08/21/059269.html
http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2007-08/artikel-8863925.asp
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=661579
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66coronet 1:43AM (9/14/2007)
http://pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/current/0,1088,4894,00.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/automobiles/09SPRINT.html
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